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Take the first step toward recovery with an alcohol detox regime

If you’ve become dependent on alcohol, you’re not alone. An estimated 76 million people around the world have been diagnosed with varying levels of alcohol use disorders, and the number grows with each passing day. Having been rated the sixth most addictive substance known to man, alcohol negatively affects millions of lives both directly and indirectly. From conditions like liver cirrhosis to victims of traffic accidents, alcohol is a proven killer, but you can learn to live without this potentially deadly substance if you follow a good alcohol detox regime.

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What happens during alcohol detox?

Detox begins with an initial assessment. You’ll be evaluated to determine your level of dependence on alcohol, how long your addiction has been going on, your physical health, and whether or not you have any underlying mental conditions as well as an array of other elements. From there, you’ll begin your actual detox regime.

Alcohol detox protocol at home

Though it’s possible to carry out a home alcohol detox regime without outside assistance, this course of action isn’t usually recommended. For many, the process includes severe withdrawal symptoms, and the temptation of simply having another drink to take off the edge is too great in an environment where alcohol may be readily available. You also have the physical and emotional toll of those side-effects to consider.

Because withdrawal symptoms can potentially be dangerous, it’s best to remain under the continual supervision provided through a live-in facility. Throughout the seven to 10 days of your alcohol detox, staff members will be by your side, offering both medical and emotional support to get you through the tough times. You’ll have around-the-clock care, counselling, meals, shelter and anything else you need during your stay.

The hardships of withdrawal

Withdrawal is repeatedly mentioned in association with breaking drug and alcohol addictions, but few are truly prepared for this phase of detox. When your body becomes accustomed to the presence of an outside substance, it’s going to respond negatively once deprived. All those physical and emotional symptoms to follow are the result of your body learning to function normally without alcohol. These typically begin within 24 to 72 hours of beginning detox and may include:

Extreme alcohol cravings

Head and body aches

Trembling

Chills and cold sweats

Nausea and dizziness

Sleeplessness

Irritability

Unusual sadness or hopelessness

Anxiety

Depression

Withdrawal isn’t the same for everyone. You may experience only one or two of these symptoms or all of them, and they may be barely noticeable or severe. In some of the most pronounced cases, people face delirium tremens, commonly known as DT’s, which are characterized by

Hallucinations

Confusion

Irrational levels of fear

Seizures

Though all withdrawal symptoms can have a profound impact on your overall physical and mental health, DT’s can potentially be fatal. Since there’s no way to predict how your body will react to a sudden lack of alcohol, it’s always best to check into a residential detox facility rather than attempting it alone. Even if your symptoms are mild, plenty can be said for continual emotional support. When going through alcohol withdrawal hospital protocol often prescribes medication such as benzodiazepine to help patients ween off their physical dependence on alcohol.

Types of detox available

With residential detox facilities, you can choose between two basic types of detox regimes: medical and natural. If you opt for medical detox, you’ll have the benefit of medications on your side. Your detox team will administer certain prescription drugs to help ease the pain and discomfort of withdrawal as well as reduce the emotional and mental impacts of the process.

Afterward, you’ll still need to be slowly weaned off those medications over the course of several weeks or months. Though some feel this is essentially replacing one addiction with another, it’s really just a step-down process designed to make recovery a bit less uncomfortable. Many experts insist this approach reduces the risk of relapse.

Natural detox, as the name indicates, takes place without the help of medications. You’ll feel the full brunt of your withdrawal symptoms. In many cases, this is only recommended for those who are mildly dependent on alcohol and have been addicted for less than 10 years. Your medical and mental health histories may also play a role in whether or not natural detox is best for you.

Facing withdrawal without any form of medication is bound to be more difficult, but you’ll still have detox facility staff members at your disposal. They’ll help bear the physical and emotional burden while offering their training, experience and understanding. Though facility experts can give you guidance and recommendations, the choice between medical and natural detox is ultimately yours to make.

Moving forward

For the most part, the purpose of those initial seven to 10 days is to rid your system of alcohol. Going through detox is only the first step in rebuilding your life. Some recovering addicts say it’s the most difficult leg of the journey whereas others feel the opposite is true. While withdrawal symptoms are usually most severe during detox, they’re not completely behind you by any means.

Community support systems are widely available after detox, but you may fare better in a long-term residential facility. Lasting anywhere from 28 days to several months, live-in programmes often help facilitate the transition into the real world without falling back on alcohol as a crutch. You’ll have access to a variety of therapies geared toward preparing you for the future.

Bottom line

You’ll probably find yourself craving a drink quite often in the beginning although the need will fade over time. Particularly stressful situations may exacerbate your desire to fall back on your addiction. Long-term rehab facilities provide tools to help deal with real-life situations on your own well after the initial detox period has passed.

Regardless of your goals for the future, alcohol detox is the first step in a long and difficult process. Whether or not you make use of medications to ease withdrawal symptoms during the first week or so, emotional support is an immeasurably valuable tool. From that point, long-term rehab gives you the benefit of a variety of resources to help greatly lessen the risk of relapse.

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